Easy Fimo Tutorial: How To Make Beads From Polymer Clay Cane Slices

Vid #73: The Creativity Comes More From The Cane Design Rather Than The Bead Shape:

A very fun bead to make is the cane slice bead. It is simply a slice of clay taken from a polymer clay cane, which is then pierced to make the hole. Although the instructions for making this bead are very straight forward, here are a few helpful tips…

1) Make sure the cane is as cool as possible to avoid distortion when slicing. Pop it in the fridge for a bit if you find that your millifiori cane is too soft. Or you can use a frozen gel icepack to cool them down too. For more info on chilling polymer clay, see this article: Fimo And Sculpey Cane Making Tips

2) To mark even spaces for cutting along the length of the cane, press the raised markings on a flexible rubber ruler into the surface of the clay. The little indents left behind show you where to slice perfectly measured beads, all the same thickness. Press lightly though, or you may have to sand some of the markings off later on.

3) Since these beads have flat fronts and backs to them they are easy to sand. So don't worry too much if they aren't perfectly smooth when you cut them.

4) Cane slice beads can be pierced a few different ways. You can put a hole in them the 'normal' way from top to bottom through the edges. You can also pierce them through the center like a disk bead. Or near the top like a charm or pendant.

5) Try slicing your beads super thin and then give them a cup shape or wavy shape. Pierce them through the center for a cool ripple look when they are strung.

What I like about cane slice beads is that the creativity comes from the cane design rather than from the bead shape. Once you have built yourself a wonderful polymer clay cane, you can make tons of different styles of beads with it… including the simple and elegant cane slice bead!

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The full version of the "Cane Slice Beads" preview video shown above, will soon be posted in the Polymer Clay Tutor Library [Click Link For More Info On How To Become a Member Today]. The price works out to less than $3.32 per month… about the cost of one block of polymer clay. If nothing else, your subscription will pay for itself just because you'll be wasting less clay, not having to figure out new techniques all on your own.

In the "Cane Slice Beads" video I demonstrate how to make these very simple beads in a whole bunch of different shapes and styles. I also show you a trick for getting all beads all the same size and also various ways to pierce them.